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Does atripla cause weight gain? Or does it make harder to lose weight?

How have others dealt with this?

Thank you

I've gained weight since starting atripla but I think this is a byproduct of my appetite returning and my body being able to absorb the food again. It was a complete reversal of the wasting that was happening prior to treatment.

As for making it harder to lose weight, my experience says yes. I used to have a better level of control over my weight and now it seems that no matter how much I diet and exercise I'm not losing any weight at all. This is just my experience and perhaps it's the fact that 30 is right around the corner and my metabolism is slowing down, but I've never had to struggle so hard and seen absolutely no results.

I can't really be sure that Atripla caused my weight gain. I was about 25-30 lbs lighter when I started it (I was in the hospital with PCP). I'm also not sure when I became infected, so who knows how much of my 'trimness' was due to me just being somewhat in shape or due to my body fighting HIV. I do know that since that time (starting Atripla, taking Prednisone for months, etc), I gained a fair amount of weight which has been somewhat difficult to drop. I do work out, so is it muscle gain / fat loss or just difficulty losing fat. At any rate, I'm going to continue to exercise and work out. If not, I know I'd be as big as a house!

Since I started Atripla a few years back I steadily put on weight despite trying to fight it off. Part of it could have been depression at first due to the HIV not to mention being in school full time and working which can lead to some stress eating. I have been eating right and exercising regularly for a few months now and it has been a bitch to take off. I am down 19 pounds but damn it's hard.

I think I gained 48 pds since I start taking Atripla. I was in a constant state of loosing my wight. But now I am gaining it back. Now I am 167lbs and I think this is a good weight for me given my hight.

I"m beginning to think I need to hire a nutrionist and trainer to help me design a program that works ... Before I started Atripla I could drop 10 lbs in two weeks ... And that was just a few years ago ...

In the last two weeks I've struggled and only lost 2 lbs ..

I had heard it led to weight gain and made it more difficult to lose weight but WOW ... My metabolism has always been high so struggling with weight management is new to me ...

I"m beginning to think I need to hire a nutrionist and trainer to help me design a program that works ... Before I started Atripla I could drop 10 lbs in two weeks ... And that was just a few years ago ...

In the last two weeks I've struggled and only lost 2 lbs ..

I had heard it led to weight gain and made it more difficult to lose weight but WOW ... My metabolism has always been high so struggling with weight management is new to me ...

So for those who have won the atripla weight war .. any tips?

This is exactly what I've noticed, I seem to be able to make marginal gains, but only with a tremendous amount of effort.

I've had the same issue, I've gained about 25-30 lbs, my eating/exercise habits have not really changed. I try with no luck to get back down to about 170 but find it impossible. I have decided that I am going to cut back on all refined sugars to see if this will make a difference. But I am going to have do it a little bit at a time.

Newbie, I was the same way. Then I started Atripla. Now, I walk past a piece of cake and it jumps off the plate and staples itself to my ass.

I love feeling better but hate the weight gain.

I wish it would staple itself to my ass! Instead it goes for the stomach and waist. I was 162 two years ago and now weight 179 - but, other than the stomach, it actually was needed weight gain, because my height is about 6'2.

I've had the same problem. I've gained nearly 20 lbs. since starting Atripla 2 years ago. I'm not going to the gym at the moment for for over a year I was AND had a personal trainer and STILL could not lose weight. My doctor constantly harps at me at every appointment that "you need to lose weight, you need to lose weight" and he NEVER attibutes anythig to my meds. Frankly I'm sick and tired of hearing him and his harping. I've reduced my caloric intake and have all but cut fat from my diet. Living in NYC I walk miles/day so even though I'm not currently going to a formal gym, it's not like I'm a sedentary slug.

I have also blamed Atripla for my weight gain. I think it may have something to do with the sudden change in the bodies chemistry. I began to eat more junk food, cakes and ice creams and etc... , but I have went from 230 to 168 lbslbs by watching my diet and exercising. The meds may increase you sweet tooth but you have to maintain your weight. Good luck.

I've been talking Atripla for 4+ yrs. I did put on weight over the last couple -- but I don't think my med had anything to do with it. I think it was simply that I ate more and exercised less. I realized how much my extra weight was impacting me (particularly on the tennis court -- I love playing tennis) this past spring. I decided to lose weight and have been successful thus far. In about 12 weeks, I've lost 26.4 lbs. I took a week off my diet for a trip to Paris, but I'm back now -- hope to lose another 20. I see no difference in the difficulty of losing weight now than I did before starting Atripla. I've struggled with weight most of my life and lost 65 lbs back in 2000 (my last neg. test was in 2001).

So... starting HAART may "help" one gain weight because of better health, but I'm not sure how it could make it harder to lose -- and, anecdotally, I've seen no problem myself with losing.

Sounds like you all have had similar experiences with the weight gain and Atripla. As a skinny boy since I can remember I hope too that if I do gain any, it will be in my ass lol. However, I was skinny and lanky way before I was infected, I am now at my heaviest ever at 5'10 140lbs so will be curious to see what impact (if any) the med has on me weight-wise

I too was in the hospital with PCP before I started Atripla. I was down to 87 pounds when I was discharged. I was on Atripla and had hubby feeding me like 6 times a day and got up to 147 in a few months. Then due to circumstances, whatever, whatever hubby's job changed and we lost insurance. So If 've been off Atripla since November and am back to 120. Of course this all prolly means squat because I've had eating disorders since I was younger. BUT the Atripla ( I was on it for over a year) did give me more weight gain in the belly area.

Logged

I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you. - Grandpa Simpson I knit, therefore I am - Me

I too was in the hospital with PCP before I started Atripla. I was down to 87 pounds when I was discharged. I was on Atripla and had hubby feeding me like 6 times a day and got up to 147 in a few months. Then due to circumstances, whatever, whatever hubby's job changed and we lost insurance. So If 've been off Atripla since November and am back to 120. Of course this all prolly means squat because I've had eating disorders since I was younger. BUT the Atripla ( I was on it for over a year) did give me more weight gain in the belly area.

So you're saying you're not on any hiv treatment and you're wasting again? You need to get onto treatment again ASAP.

ADAP in your state may be able to provide them for you if you cannot afford them or are not insured.

Gaining weight i thought there's nothing else to do rather wait for hiv cure.i've tried every way to reduce the weight gain but i found it elusive ,even once a day meal and exercise including situp doesn't work as well.my stomach is pumping outside but ass ,leg was ok,i don't even want to do any exercise just waiting for my 6 feet.

in orther word,those who can write to pharmatical companys or even research let them look into this plight we're faceing with the side efect of their medications.

today a lady ased me why your stomach is too big not as it was before ,my replying was i ate too much but she say even if youeat the whole junk food anyway do something for it.i began to think about this incureable disease called (HIV)

tendai

i thought i was the one over-stuffing my face with food or someting. i've tried dieting and dieting but its not working. if anything im gaining a bit more every month. im heading for the gym to see if that will work. on the other hand i have a friend who's also gained a lot of weight but shes not on meds, comfort in numbers! she's accepted her weight gain and maybe so should i...

Take in fewer calories than you burn and you WILL lose weight -- Atripla or no Atripla. Weight gain is caused by either increasing your muscle mass or increasing your fat levels. Both require calories. If you are burning more calories than you are taking in, you simply can't gain weight. The weight has to come from something you are eating.

Write down everything single thing that you eat or drink (don't forget those calories that you drink) for a week or so and see if you are truly "dieting".

i thought i was the one over-stuffing my face with food or someting. i've tried dieting and dieting but its not working. if anything im gaining a bit more every month. im heading for the gym to see if that will work. on the other hand i have a friend who's also gained a lot of weight but shes not on meds, comfort in numbers! she's accepted her weight gain and maybe so should i...

You really have to watch what you eat for it is the little things that make you gain weight or you are just having selective memory on what you are eating.

A good meal plan like Jenny Craig's or Weight Watchers is best and if you eat with over eaters, you become an over eater. That's just fair warning. If you want to accept the gain, and believe me I have been there, you must accept that excess fat leads to bad health. It leads to heart attacks, strokes, and all sort of diseases. You should strive to stay within a certain weight and fat percentage. Believe me, heart attack or stroke is no joke and if you want to see the results check out a nursing home or recovery center with stroke victims. They are helpless and depress because their bodies can't and won't function normally and it is a long process to get back to near normal. It is better to be "healthy, wealthy and wise," than to be "sick, poor and ill advised," when you know better.

I have been on Atripla for 4 months now. I also found out I am undetectable now as well. With weight gain I def put on some pounds in the past months, about 10-15 however, I was also a little skinny. My doc advised me about fat displacement, so I was told to focus on weight lifting, since muscle will always burn more fat. I have used one of the tools at the gym to measure my fat to body ratio and i am sitting at about 11%. So I contribute some weight gain to being well again and the other to muscle. keep up on the gym, eat right and all that. Everyone HIV and HIV- people should all do that. Salad instead of the burger

today i got new idear for losing weight,just buy natureral yogourt,fresh milk,and lime ,mix them together in a cup .here is how to mix it ,half glass of yogourt,half glass of milkthen one small lime,after that turn them together and drink it ,then one cup of water.only in the morning.

today i got new idear for losing weight,just buy natureral yogourt,fresh milk,and lime ,mix them together in a cup .here is how to mix it ,half glass of yogourt,half glass of milkthen one small lime,after that turn them together and drink it ,then one cup of water.only in the morning.

varity is the spice of life sweetheart... your food choice is OK for a week or two but after that you may stir crazy.

I've gained some weight with atripila... but, I've endulged in fried chicken, fish and I love french fries... I weigh 178lbs... my normal wight is 160-165lbs... but, Ill be 50 this december... I exercise and hopefully my ab-circle will knock the middle back down?

I've gained some weight with atripila... but, I've endulged in fried chicken, fish and I love french fries... I weigh 178lbs... my normal wight is 160-165lbs... but, Ill be 50 this december... I exercise and hopefully my ab-circle will knock the middle back down?

I have to admit that Atripla played a role but it may have been just mental and physical depression which the drug make me during waking hours. Good luck with the program but give up the french fries.